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Reading borough councillors will be asked tonight, Wednesday, December 9, to give their views on a plan which will be determined by West Berkshire Council.

The recommendation by officers is that the committee objects to the proposed development because of the inadequate highways assessment.

Further objections include the impact of the proposed highways works within Reading borough which “would have a detrimental impact on highway safety and would prejudice the council’s ability to deliver National Cycle Network Route 422.”

The report explains although the development site is in West Berkshire, the A4 Bath Road in front of it is in Reading borough.

The proposal includes reconfiguring the site access and closing off any other existing accesses that are no longer needed.

The changes would mean moving a pedestrian refuge which would lead to the crossing point being moved to the spot where the pavement is narrowest.

West Berkshire Council has already established an off-road cycle route on the northern side of the A4 - the opposite side from the proposed Lidl store - and Reading plans to continue the route 422 along that side of the road eventually creating a route linking town centres in Reading, Wokingham, Bracknell, Windsor and Maidenhead.

The report says: “The proposal to extend the right turn lane into the site and relocate the pedestrian refuge would therefore significantly impact on Reading Borough Council’s ability to implement the extension of the cycle lane.”

The report is also recommending that if West Berkshire Council does decide to approve the plan, Lidl should enter a Section 106 agreement with Reading Borough Council to secure financial contributions towards the delivery of the NCN Route 422 and improvements to the footway on the northern side of the A4.

Officers are also recommending that a condition should be added to the planning approval that no deliveries to the store should take place before 7am or after 11opm, all delivery vehicles to should switch off their engines when they arrive and keep them switched off during loading and unloading to protect the amenity of neighbouring properties.